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Medicare: Your GoodRx guide
Learn the ins and outs of Medicare with our comprehensive guide that covers eligibility, coverage, costs, and more.
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Common Medicare glossary terms
The Medicare Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) is a letter for people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans and anyone with Medicare Part D prescription coverage. People with Medicare Advantage or original Medicare (Part A and/or Part B) can have Part D plans. The ANOC informs enrollees about any changes to their benefits for the coming coverage year. By law, Medicare Advantage and Part D plans must send the ANOC to enrollees by September 30 — which is before the annual Medicare open enrollment period of October 15 to December 7. Even if you have the same plan, your benefits could change year to year.
A premium is the cost of having a health insurance plan and is usually paid monthly. Medicare enrollees may pay several premiums. Most people don’t pay anything for Part A hospital insurance, but some people do depending on how long they worked and paid taxes. For outpatient and preventive coverage, the Part B standard premium is $185 a month in 2025, but people with higher incomes pay more. Your premium for Medicare Advantage plans will vary, but even so-called “zero premium” plans require you to pay your Part B premium. Part D premiums range in price, but the average is about $47 a month in 2025. If you have original Medicare and a Medigap supplement plan, you have an additional premium for that coverage.
A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your Medicare plan begins cost-sharing. In 2025, the Part A deductible is $1,676 per benefit period. The Part B deductible is $257 for the year, but you can access certain preventive care — including some vaccines — without meeting your deductible. Medicare Advantage deductibles vary and your Part D deductible can’t exceed $590 in 2025.
Original Medicare has no annual out-of-pocket maximum. Medicare Advantage plans have out-of-pocket limits. In 2025, they are $9,350 for in-network covered services and $14,000 for in-network and out-of-network covered services combined.
Starting January 1, 2025, anyone with Part D coverage had the option to use the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan for their out-of-pocket medication costs instead of paying upfront at the pharmacy. This plan doesn’t provide savings, but allows you to spread prescription costs — including your deductible — over the year. Making payments can be particularly helpful for people who may skip or delay picking up prescriptions because of high costs early in the year. Also in 2025, the Part D out-of-pocket limit dropped to $2,000.
After a Medicare enrollee meets the Part D deductible (if the plan has one), the health insurance begins cost sharing. The initial coverage phase means you pay coinsurance or a copay for covered prescriptions.
When you reach the $2,000 out-of-pocket maximum, your Part D plan pays for 100% of covered medications for the rest of the year.
How to save on drugs with Medicare
Medicare Part D is the part of Medicare that helps cover prescription medications, including both brand name and generic. It also includes coverage for certain vaccines that aren’t covered by Part B, as well as some medical supplies.
Even with Medicare Part D coverage, you may still have out-of-pocket costs such as premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. As of 2025, Medicare Part D plans include a $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap. Once you reach this limit, your plan covers the full cost of your covered medications for the rest of the year.
Still, there are several ways to reduce your prescription medication cost. From GoodRx coupons to patient assistance programs, here are ways you can save money on the medications you need.
1. See if you qualify for Medicare’s Extra Help program
The Medicare Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy program is a federally funded program for people covered under a Medicare Part D plan. It helps reduce enrollees’ out-of-pocket costs by limiting their deductibles and copays. To qualify, your income and assets fall below a certain limit.
If you’re eligible, you may receive:
No monthly premiums for Medicare Part D
No Medicare Part D deductible
Low copays for prescription medications
2. Use GoodRx coupons
You can’t combine GoodRx coupons with Medicare, but you can choose to use a coupon instead of your insurance if it results in a lower price.
Here’s how to download a GoodRx coupon:
Go to the GoodRx website, or download the GoodRx app on your phone.
Search for your prescription medication.
Enter your prescribed dose and quantity, then set your location.
Compare prices across different pharmacies in your area.
Click “Find the lowest prices” or press “Enter.”
You can have the coupon sent by text or email, or print it out.
To apply the discount, show the coupon at the pharmacy when you fill your prescription. Ideally, this is done at drop-off before the prescription is filled.
3. Consider the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan
The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is a new program that can help make paying for medications more manageable. It’s open to anyone with a standalone Part D plan or those with Medicare Advantage plans that offer prescription medication coverage.
There is no cost to participate in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan and participation is voluntary. Instead of paying for the total cost of your medications up front at the pharmacy, the payment plan allows you to spread the cost into smaller payments during the year. If you join, you will continue to pay your premium every month as well as an additional monthly amount on your payment plan. It’s a good idea to review how the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan works to determine if it’s right for you.
4. Compare Part D plans during open enrollment
Medicare open enrollment, which takes place every year from October 15 to December 7, is your chance to switch plans if another option offers better prescription medication coverage or lower costs. Plan costs and coverage details can change each year, so it’s important to review your options.
Here are some steps to help you compare plans:
Make a list of all your medications and what dosages you take.
Visit Medicare’s plan finder tool.
Enter the names of your prescription medications to see which plans offer the best coverage.
Look at premiums, deductibles, and medication costs for each plan. Plans usually change their formularies, premiums, and copays annually.
Check if your preferred pharmacy is in each plan's network.
5. Get a 90-day supply
Opting for a 90-day supply instead of a monthly refill of your medication might help reduce your long-term out-of-pocket costs. Many insurance plans offer lower copays or bulk pricing for 3-month prescriptions.
If your medication is covered under your plan, see if your insurer’s mail-order or specialty pharmacy provides savings on a 90-day supply. If they do, ask your prescriber to write a prescription for a 90-day quantity to take advantage of these potential savings.
6. Ask about the generic version of your medication
Some medications have a generic version, and they generally cost less than the brand-name prescriptions. Generic medications are just as safe and effective as brand-name medications, so it’s an option worth considering to reduce your cost. Ask your prescriber about switching to a generic version of your medication to save money.
7. Consider lower-cost alternative medications
There may be other medications that help manage your condition, and they may cost less. If your medication is costly or not covered by your insurance, talk to your prescriber about lower-cost alternatives that might be a good option for you. Alternatives might have better insurance coverage or lower costs.
8. Learn more about patient assistance programs
Patient assistance programs (PAPs) offer free or low-cost medications to uninsured and low-income consumers. These programs, which primarily offer savings on brand-name medications, are usually run by private pharmaceutical companies or nonprofit organizations. You must meet certain qualifications and complete paperwork to receive savings from PAPs. However, some PAPs exclude Medicare recipients, so it’s important to review the program’s rules and requirements carefully.
9. Check state-funded resources
Depending on where you live, your state may offer programs to help you navigate prescription medication costs. A good place to start is your local Department of Aging. This U.S. Department of Health and Human Services office can help you find the best Medicare plan for the coverage you need.
Some states even have their own cost-saving programs for older adults. For example, Pennsylvania runs PACE and PACENET. These programs help eligible residents get prescription medications at reduced costs.
Alternatively, you can find out if your state has a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program by using Medicare’s search tool. These programs are state-run and help qualifying residents pay for prescription medications.
10. Use a health savings account to pay for prescription medications
Although you can’t contribute to a health savings account (HSA) after enrolling in Medicare, you can still use any remaining funds in your account to pay for qualified medical expenses. An HSA allows you to use tax-free dollars to pay for eligible prescription medications. The money in your account does not expire so you can use your funds at any time to reduce your out-of-pocket medication costs.
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Frequently asked questions about Rosuvastatin
Rosuvastatin is a long-acting medication, which means that its effects last throughout the day. You can take Rosuvastatin any time during the day or at night time. Just make sure you try to take it around the same time each day.
Your healthcare team can discuss with you how long you need to take Rosuvastatin. Typically, the length of treatment of depends on different factors, like your cholesterol levels and your risk for heart problems. For example, people who have genetic conditions that lead to higher cholesterol levels, like familial hypercholesterolemia, might need to take a statin their entire life. But others might be able to stop Rosuvastatin once their cholesterol levels are well-controlled and maintained with diet and exercise, and their risk for stroke or heart problems is low. Talk with your care team if you have specific questions about taking Rosuvastatin.
If you accidentally miss a dose of Rosuvastatin, take it as soon as you remember. But if more than 12 hours have passed since the time you were scheduled to take your dose, then skip that dose and take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time. Don't take 2 doses at the same time to make up any missed doses. Missing a single dose of Rosuvastatin likely won't cause any problems. But missing several doses cause your cholesterol levels to go up and put you at higher risk for serious heart-related problems. If you're having trouble remembering to take your pills, discuss with your healthcare team ways to organize your medications like downloading a reminder app on your phone.
There are several medications that can interact with Rosuvastatin. While you might not need to avoid taking them together, your care team will likely need to make some dosage adjustments or check your labs more often. For example, if you take cyclosporine (Sandimmune), your care team might lower your dose of Rosuvastatin. This is because cyclosporine (Sandimmune) can raise the levels of Rosuvastatin in your body and put you at higher risk for side effects. Another example is if you're taking warfarin (Coumadin), your care team might check your international normalized ratio (INR) more often after you start Rosuvastatin. This is because Rosuvastatin can cause the INR to go up, which raises the risk of bleeding. Make sure to tell your prescriber and pharmacist about all of the medications you're taking before and during treatment with Rosuvastatin.
Weight gain isn't commonly reported by people who took Rosuvastatin in clinical studies. If you've gained weight after starting Rosuvastatin, talk with your healthcare team. They can help you figure out what factors might be contributing to the weight gain. Keep in mind that while Rosuvastatin can help lower your cholesterol levels, this medication works best when you also make lifestyle changes to keep your cholesterol levels low and to help maintain a healthy body weight. For example, your care team might recommend that you do cardio and strength training for at least 150 minutes per week. They will also recommend that you avoid foods that are high in trans and saturated fats, such as fast food, and to build meals with healthy foods, such as whole grains, nuts, and vegetables.
Some common side effects of Rosuvastatin, such as headache, nausea, and constipation, typically go away with time. In the meantime, your healthcare team can recommend lifestyle changes to ease these side effects, such as eating foods high in fiber to help with constipation or eating foods that are more bland to prevent nausea. But taking Rosuvastatin can also put you at risk for rare but serious side effects, such as liver problems or muscle breakdown. The risk for these side effects will likely stay with you as long as you're taking Rosuvastatin. Talk with your healthcare team if you have questions about any specific side effect.
The risk of long-term side effects with Rosuvastatin is low. Some studies suggest that taking Rosuvastatin can raise blood sugar levels to the range of Type 2 diabetes. But this side effect is more likely for people who already have pre-diabetes. Other studies suggest that taking Rosuvastatin can raise the risk of liver problems, but this side effect is also rare. More often, people reported higher levels of liver enzymes that got better over time, and no serious liver damage. In general, the benefits of taking Rosuvastatin is greater than the potential for harm. Talk with your healthcare team if you have any specific concerns about taking this medication.
Both Rosuvastatin and atorvastatin (Lipitor) are moderate-to-high intensity statins, meaning they can lower LDL by more than 50% at certain doses. They're both taken once per day at any time of the day. One difference is the dosage forms they come in. Rosuvastatin is only available as pills, whereas atorvastatin is available as pills and a liquid (Atorvaliq). But, Ezallor Sprinkle, a brand of rosuvastatin capsules, can be opened up and sprinkled over soft foods for people having trouble swallowing pills. Another difference is both medications have slightly different drug interactions. For example, only atorvastatin (Lipitor) can't be taken with grapefruit or grapefruit juice and certain macrolide antibiotics. Talk to your prescriber or pharmacist if you have more questions on the differences between both medications.
